my hands run circles around my body
sliding roughly over the surface of myself
feeling the warmth of my being under my skin
fingertips digging into myself
s my hands roam the surface of my being

my stomach, neck, hair, legs, behind, arm, *******, sides, hips

I watch myself in the mirror as I do this
the feeling of my rough skin sliding across itself
hands to body
a reminder that I am here
I am alive
and I hurt
I ache

but I am still warm
so I am still alive
and breathing.